Q&A
Council Member Vernikov questions SBS on business retention and support programs
0:28:47
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127 sec
Council Member Inna Vernikov engages in a Q&A session with representatives from the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) about industrial business retention and support programs. The discussion covers the process for identifying at-risk businesses, the impact of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) on business retention, and data collection efforts.
- SBS representatives explain how Industrial Business Service Providers (IBSPs) work with businesses to assess needs and provide services.
- The positive impact of BIDs on business retention and their role as partners to SBS is highlighted.
- Data collection efforts, including surveys and partnerships with other agencies, are briefly mentioned.
Inna Vernikov
0:28:47
Thank you, madam chairwoman.
0:28:48
Good afternoon.
0:28:49
My first question is, can you talk a little bit about the process when an IBSP identifies a business at risk of leaving the city?
Sherry Lane
0:29:00
Hi.
0:29:00
Thank you so much for the question.
0:29:02
So our industrial business service provider partners, work closely with their small business clients to help assess every one of their needs and understand how the city can help provide services to help them start, operate, and grow here in New York City, And they do that utilizing a suite of services that they offer, on behalf
Inna Vernikov
0:29:24
of SBS.
0:29:25
Okay.
0:29:26
Thank you.
0:29:27
Can you talk a little bit about the bids?
0:29:30
Do you think that the presence of bids has a positive impact on retaining businesses in the city, in neighborhoods where they're located in particular?
Kitty Chan
0:29:41
Bids?
0:29:41
Yes.
0:29:42
Yes.
0:29:43
We find our bids to be one of our really strong partners.
0:29:48
Whenever there's new programming or feedback, from the community, we have really good relationships with our bids.
0:29:57
And we're actually really proud to be able to say that, you know, there are regular meetings and feedback loops where where we're actually learning about them, as well as us being able to make them aware of new programs that are available.
Inna Vernikov
0:30:13
Okay.
0:30:13
Thank you.
0:30:14
And can you talk about what sort of surveys or other data you've collected assessing
Sherry Lane
0:30:29
business service providers who work with, industrial businesses every day, and in addition to the partnership, we have with our sister agency, DCP, to collect information about specifically about industrial business zones and industrial businesses and other stakeholders, we SBS also has a program called We NYC, or Women Entrepreneurs NYC, that specifically focuses on helping women entrepreneurs across all industries.
